OTHERS SAY

Paul Ryan’s hope

— Paul Ryan and other Republican leaders are busy scratching out the old image of the Republican Party and rapidly trying to create a new one.

For too long, Republicans have talked down to their own voters (something, by the way, that Democrats are sometimes inclined to do as well).

The real test is whether the ideas advanced by the GOP are any better at really offering solutions. Or is this simply a version of extreme makeover?

In either case, we wish Ryan and the GOP well. The nation is better served when the two parties both are offering reasonable alternatives. Too often in the recent past, both have instead been guilty of naked pandering and ignoring the real concerns of voters.

After losing the popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections, the Republican brand needs some work. The GOP continues to do poorly with people of color and the young. Despite alienating voter groups that might listen to thoughtful conservative economic arguments, some Republicans still cling to the old strategy of divide-and-conquer with social issues.

The party was deeply divided by the rise of the Tea Party and, at times, didn’t appear to know what it wanted to be. Can youthful politicians such as Ryan, Gov. Scott Walker, Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia really redraw the Republican image? And will there be substantive policies behind it that are reasonable, thoughtful and, most of all, work?

We’re about to find out.

Editorial, Pages 10 on 02/04/2013

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